Few hours before the start of voting at the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), two aspirants, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu – Deen and Dr. Nwachukwu Anhasnze has withdrawn from the race.
Hayatu – Deen said he was quitting the race because the competition is highly monetized and the stake is the set for highest bidders.
In a statement early in the day, he said he was driven by passion and commitment to the cause of salvaging the country which is on the verge of collapse, having observed with great concern and sorrow the recent rapid deterioration of all acts of national life characterized by increasing poverty, religious intolerance, banditry and kidnapping, monumental oil theft, corruption, mismanagement of national assets, communal and religious strides and near collapse of public services and public institutions.The Trumpet Gathered
He said he joined the contest as a democrat, with an open mind to keenly contest and accept the result of a process that is fair, credible and transparent.
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But he said “we have endeavoured to forge a consensus which would have facilitated a seamless emergence of a candidate which unfortunately could not be achieved.
“I wish to reiterate that I did not join party politics and to contest for the presidency because of personal gains and inordinate ambition, in order to serve our country.
“It is therefore based on personal principles and with great humility that I have decided after wide consultations to withdraw from this contest which has been obscenely monetized.
“I wish to reiterate that I did not join party politics and to contest for the presidency because of personal gains and inordinate ambition, but in order to serve our country.
“It is therefore based on personal principles and with great humility that I have decided after wide consultations to withdraw from this contest which has been obscenely monetized.”
However, Hayatu – Deen as a very loyal party member and believer in the democratic process, will continue to avail himself and his teeming supporters at all times to ensure victory of the party.
On his part, Dr Anakwenze who stepped down for another aspirant, Nyesom Wike blamed the party for changing the rule in the middle of the game.
He said his decision to withdraw from the race is the inability of the party to stand by their zoning principle as enshrined in the PDP Constitution.
“I have consulted widely with my people, elders and followers across the country and in the diaspora to arrive at this unpleasant decision to pull out of the race. I felt if you change the rules at the middle of the game, no decent competitor would stand a chance to compete fairly“
“I, Dr Anakwenze made this known in a statement today, May 28th 2022 where I lamented that my attempt to work with the Igbo Aspirants of South-East Zone to forge a consensus which would give my people a renewed sense of belonging and hope to lead to the emergence of the party’s flag bearer could not be achieved by this abuse of the zoning principle.
“My decision to run for the office of the President with the great support of Nigerians in the diaspora was to bring in quality leadership that has eluded us as a nation for decades now, but this has been dashed”
“Many things have happened in the last few weeks that showed certain persons don’t stand a chance to compete favourably; so it is on this premise that I, painfully withdraw from the contest today 28th May 2022 in full support of a Southern candidate which is largely the wishes of Igbo Elders, the Diasporas and the voice of the people.
“I thank the party for the opportunity to inform Nigerians about how well they can fare with an Igboman as President whose love for the country towers above the lust for power. Let all my supporters across the North and South who have shown me that there are good Nigerians that still believe in merit and would put that above primordial sentiment”
“I, Dr Anakwenze said the People of Southeast wants the Presidency zoned to them and fully supported by other regions as the Igbos have always done. I am therefore constrained to withdraw from the race in full support of Nyesom Wike, the Executive Governor of Rivers State.’
“Therefore, I hereby direct all my supporters, Structures and the national delegates of our party in 36 states in Nigeria, who we have consulted nationwide and who have pledged their commitment to seeing me emerge as the candidate of Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the PDP, in view of our people-oriented programmes, that they believe will adequately address and redress the numerous problems confronting our dear Nation, Nigeria to now throw their support in favour of Governor Nyesom Wike”
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